NEW PALESTINE — In honor of New Palestine turning 150 years old, officials with the town’s annual Summer Fest are planning a big celebration to recognize the anniversary and Independence Day.
Organizers plan to have two days of family fun — Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26 — set to take place along Main Street. There will be live music, a beer and wine garden, a parade, a car show, the Dragon Dash, the Dragon Derailleur Bicycle Ride, food trucks and much more.
Friday’s festivities are set to start at 5 p.m. Colts in Motion, a 40-foot-long mobile exhibit full of interactive exhibits, history and Indianapolis Colts memorabilia, will visit the festival.
Music starts at 5:45 p.m. The Jay Jesse Band will kick things off, followed by Doug Henthorn at 8 p.m.
Saturday’s events start with the 5K run/walk and one-mile walk at 8 a.m. The start/finish line will be in the parking lot of the Hancock Wellness Center at the corner of Mt. Comfort Road and U.S. 52. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. Registration is open the day of event.
For those who don’t want to walk or run, the Dragon Derailleur ride is also happening Saturday morning and will have two routes throughout Hancock and Shelby counties.
The bike ride kicks off with registration and check-in at 8 a.m. Saturday, also at the Hancock Wellness Center. Riders will take off at 9 a.m.
Pre-race packet pickup is available Friday, June 25, for the walk, run and rides at the New Palestine Main Street offices, 11 E. Main Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It’s the building with the eagle painted on the west side.
Officials are putting together a parade that will start at 11 a.m. at New Palestine United Methodist Church, 3565 S. County Road 500W. The Sugar Creek Township Fire Department, which is celebrating its 125-year anniversary, will help with the parade.
The parade route will head south on 500W to Mill Street. The fire apparatus will then be on display from noon until 5 p.m., at the north end of New Palestine High School. Vendors will open up service around 1 p.m. Music starts at 2 p.m. Performers include Christine Kindred at 2 p.m.; Nick Lemmo and Benito DiBartoli at 4 p.m.; Project 19 at 6:30 p.m.; and Stella Luna and the Satellites at 8:30 p.m.
The beer and wine garden will be one of the main areas where visitors will be able to relax and enjoy the music. It will be the only place alcohol will be sold. The area will be open in the evening on Friday after 2 p.m. Saturday. Alcohol must stay in the designated area.
Fireworks will finish off the event Saturday night and are set to go off around 10:30 p.m.
Anyone wanting information or to register for the walk/run or bike riding events should email [email protected] with questions.
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NEW PALESTINE SUMMER FEST 2021
When: Friday and Saturday June 25 and 26.
Where: Main Street in New Palestine
Times: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Athletic Events: Walk/run registration begins at 7 a.m. Bike riding event registration begins at 8 a.m. Events will be staged at Hancock Wellness Center.
Highlight: Fireworks 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
More information: www.newpalsummerfest.com
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